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prosthetic

[pros-thet-ik]
adjective
  1. of or relating to an artificial body part or prosthesis: He was fitted for a prosthetic arm.
  2. of or relating to the fields of surgical or dental prosthetics: advances in prosthetic technology.
  3. of or relating to a substance, item, or process used to transform a person’s appearance temporarily, especially as a theatrical special effect: The final scene required painstaking application of prosthetic hair and skin.
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noun
  1. an artificial body part; a prosthesis: Hundreds of amputees volunteered to test the new prosthetics.
  2. an appearance-altering substance or item applied temporarily to a person’s face or body, especially to create a theatrical special effect: Alien creatures are brought to life with realistic prosthetics.
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Origin of prosthetic

1735–40; < Modern Latin prostheticus, from Hellenistic Greek prosthetikós, equivalent to prósthet(os) “added on,” verbid of prostithе́nai “to add, put onto” (pros- pros-. + the-, stem of tithе́nai “to put, place” + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos -ic
Related formspros·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Word Origin and History for prosthetic

adj.

1837 in grammar; 1902 in the surgical sense, from Latinized form of Greek prosthetikos "disposed to add," from prosthetas "added," verbal adjective of prostithenai "to put to, add to" (see prosthesis). Related: Prosthetically.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
prosthetic in Medicine

prosthetic

(prŏs-thĕt′ĭk)
adj.
  1. Serving as or relating to a prosthesis.
  2. Of or relating to prosthetics.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
prosthetic in Science

prosthesis

[prŏs-thē′sĭs]
Plural prostheses (prŏs-thē′sēz)
  1. An artificial device used to replace a missing or defective body part, such as a limb or a heart valve.
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Related formsprosthetic adjective (prŏs-thĕt′ĭk)
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.